Did you know since 2003, Russellville's asphalt overlay program has covered streets that total more miles than stretch from here to Atkins - and back?

Russellville's Department of Public Works and its efforts during the past year were focused for members of the Russellville City Council during their Thursday night meeting at City Hall.

"We've covered 26 miles of two-lane, three-lane and four-lane streets at a cost of $1.5 million," Public Works Director Morgan Barrett told aldermen. "We have another extensive overlay program in the works for 2007. We're working on bidding out projects right now. That should heat up in about a month."

Barrett also gave brief overviews of Public Works and divisions IT (Information Technology), Street Department and Code Enforcement. Before that, he updated some ongoing and future projects.

Work on East Harrell Drive (east of Cracker Barrel and mini storages) is about 50 percent complete. It is anticipated the contractor will start putting gravel down next week, according to Barrett.

After work is completed by City Corp., the city's water utility, work should begin in about a month on the West Portland Avenue project.

A pre-construction meeting took place Thursday on 16th Street (from Arkansas Avenue to 12th Street), the final phase of the 16th Street project that cost an estimated $3.1 million.

Work on Engineers Tributary Ditch 2, a drainage way that crosses Independence Avenue, extends to 16th Street and includes more than 7,000 feet of drainage improvements, should begin in May. Estimated cost is about $1 million, Barrett said.

Bids will open March 27 on Second Street improvements downtown. Once the roadway is closed, according to Barrett, the contractor will have 21 days to work before it reopens. The timeframe is compressed because of the downtown location of the project.

The city is waiting on final approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on the North Phoenix Avenue project, and waiting on Arkansas Tech University to answer some design questions.

Barrett explained the city's IT department and director Ricky Fuller are working on the city's Web page, making sure all departments have functioning Web pages, working on improving the network for the city as a whole, and security related to Internet access. In addition, a lot of printers are being eliminated throughout the city's departments in favor of multi-function printers and machines.

Public Works is down two employees, Barrett told the council. Employees of the Street Department, Traffic Department and Fleet Services are doing regular maintenance activities.

Barrett shared some figures from Planning and Community Development with aldermen. In 2006, 20 permits were obtained for commercial development in the city at a value of $721,000. Already this year, Barrett said, 27 permits have been obtained at a value of $1.35 million, an increase of 35 percent.

The director said 58 residential permits were obtained at a value of $2.9 million last year. This year's total residential permits total 45 for $1.65 million, a slight reduction in both the number and value of residential permits, but that mirrors similar activity throughout the country, Barrett added.

In other business Thursday nigh, Police Chief Tom McMillen introduced this year's Russellville Police Officer of the Year, Joe Paterak, and presented him with a plaque that congratulated Paterak "for dedication above and beyond the call of duty, for his service to his community and fellow police officers. Thanks for efforts on traffic team, and contributing to the safety and welfare for the citizens of Russellville."